United Kingdom Championship Tournament (2017)

United Kingdom Championship Tournament
Promotional poster featuring various tournament participants
PromotionWWE
BrandUnited Kingdom
Date14 January 2017 (first round)
15 January 2017 (finals)
CityBlackpool, Lancashire, England
VenueEmpress Ballroom
Attendance3,236
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United Kingdom Championship Tournament

The 2017 United Kingdom Championship Tournament was a two-day professional wrestling streaming event and tournament promoted by the American promotion WWE. It aired exclusively on the WWE Network. The first round took place on 14 January 2017, while the finals occurred on 15 January. The tournament was held at the Empress Ballroom in Blackpool, Lancashire, England and crowned the inaugural WWE United Kingdom Champion. Tyler Bate won the tournament to become the inaugural champion.

Background

In a press conference at The O2 Arena on 15 December 2016, Triple H, an executive for the American professional wrestling promotion WWE and head of the promotion's NXT brand, revealed that there would be a 16-man tournament to crown the inaugural WWE United Kingdom Champion.[1] A United Kingdom Championship Tournament: Preview show aired on the WWE Network on 9 January 2017, with a behind-the-scenes look at the creators of the event and the 16 competitors.[2] The tournament was held over a two-day period, 14 and 15 January 2017, at the Empress Ballroom in Blackpool, Lancashire, England and aired exclusively on the WWE Network.[3][4] The championship later became the top championship of the NXT UK brand and its show, NXT UK, a WWE Network show produced in the United Kingdom that premiered on 17 October 2018.[5]

Participants

Wrestler Hometown Weight (lb) Ref
Mark Andrews Cardiff, Wales 159 [6]
Tyler Bate Dudley, West Midlands, England 175 [7]
Danny Burch London, England 190 [8]
Joseph Conners Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England 196 [9]
Jordan Devlin Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland 180 [10]
James Drake Blackpool, Lancashire, England 181 [11]
Pete Dunne Birmingham, West Midlands, England 205 [12]
H.C. Dyer Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England 213 [13]
Sam Gradwell Blackpool, Lancashire, England 212 [14]
Saxon Huxley Hartlepool, County Durham, England 215 [15]
Roy Johnson London, England 206 [16]
Dan Moloney Birmingham, West Midlands, England 216 [17]
Trent Seven Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England 216 [18]
Tucker Belfast, Northern Ireland 191 [19]
Tyson T-Bone Malvern, Worcestershire, England 245 [20]
Wolfgang Glasgow, Scotland 255 [21]

Alternates

These competitors were initially announced for the tournament, but were not selected as part of the final 16. They were backup competitors if there were any injuries to the final 16, which there were not.

Wrestler Hometown Weight (lb)
Tiger Ali Swindon, Wiltshire, England 185
Ringo Ryan Liverpool, Merseyside, England 198
Jack Starz Leicester, Leicestershire, England 172
Chris Tyler Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England 201

Results

14 January

No.ResultsStipulations
1DChris Tyler and Jack Starz defeated Ringo Ryan and Tiger AliTag team match[22]
2Trent Seven defeated HC DyerWWE United Kingdom Championship tournament first round match
3Jordan Devlin defeated Danny BurchWWE United Kingdom Championship tournament first round match
4Sam Gradwell defeated Saxon HuxleyWWE United Kingdom Championship tournament first round match
5Pete Dunne defeated Roy JohnsonWWE United Kingdom Championship tournament first round match
6Wolfgang defeated Tyson T-BoneWWE United Kingdom Championship tournament first round match
7Joseph Conners defeated James DrakeWWE United Kingdom Championship tournament first round match
8Mark Andrews defeated Dan MoloneyWWE United Kingdom Championship tournament first round match
9Tyler Bate defeated TuckerWWE United Kingdom Championship tournament first round match
D – this was a dark match

15 January

No.ResultsStipulations
1DSaxon Huxley and Tucker defeated Dan Moloney and Nathan CruzTag team match[23]
2Pete Dunne defeated Sam GradwellWWE United Kingdom Championship tournament quarterfinal match
3Mark Andrews defeated Joseph ConnersWWE United Kingdom Championship tournament quarterfinal match
4Wolfgang defeated Trent SevenWWE United Kingdom Championship tournament quarterfinal match
5Tyler Bate defeated Jordan DevlinWWE United Kingdom Championship tournament quarterfinal match
6Pete Dunne defeated Mark AndrewsWWE United Kingdom Championship tournament semifinal match
7Tyler Bate defeated WolfgangWWE United Kingdom Championship tournament semifinal match
8Neville defeated Tommy EndSingles match[24]
9Tyler Bate defeated Pete DunneTournament final for the inaugural WWE United Kingdom Championship
D – this was a dark match

Tournament bracket

On 9 January 2017, WWE.com announced the full bracket for the tournament.[25]

The following time limits were in place:

  • Round one: 15 minutes
  • Quarterfinals: 20 minutes
  • Semifinals: 30 minutes
  • Final: no time limit
First Round
14 January 2017[26] 		Quarter-Finals
15 January 2017[24] 		Semi-Finals
15 January 2017[24] 		Final
15 January 2017[24]
        
Tyler Bate Pin
Tucker 10:34
Tyler Bate Pin
Jordan Devlin 6:05
Jordan Devlin Pin
Danny Burch 8:55
Tyler Bate Pin
Wolfgang 5:55
Trent Seven Pin
H.C. Dyer 5:25
Trent Seven 6:35
Wolfgang Pin
Wolfgang Pin
Tyson T-Bone 6:20
Tyler Bate Pin
Pete Dunne 15:10
Mark Andrews Pin
Dan Moloney 5:35
Mark Andrews Pin
Joseph Conners 8:10
James Drake 7:12
Joseph Conners Pin
Mark Andrews 10:33
Pete Dunne Pin
Pete Dunne Pin
Roy Johnson 7:30
Pete Dunne Pin
Sam Gradwell 4:50
Saxon Huxley 6:00
Sam Gradwell Pin

Broadcast team

Ring name Real name Notes
Andy Shepherd Andrew Shepherd Ring announcer[27]
Charly Caruso Charly Arnolt Backstage interviewer
Michael Cole Michael Coulthard Lead commentator[1]
Nigel McGuinness Steven Haworth Color commentator[1]

Aftermath

On 15 May 2017, a follow-up to the United Kingdom Championship tournament was announced by WWE,[28] titled the United Kingdom Championship Special, the event aired on 19 May 2017.[29] In April 2018, a second WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament was announced, to be held on 18 and 19 June 2018 at the Royal Albert Hall.[30]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Melok, Bobby. "First-ever United Kingdom Champion to be crowned in January". WWE. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  2. ^ "Watch the WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament Preview Show tonight after Raw on WWE Network". WWE. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  3. ^ Currier, Joseph (15 December 2016). "WWE to crown first United Kingdom Champion in January". Wrestling Observer Newsletter. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  4. ^ Keller, Wade (December 15, 2016). "WWE announces new UK-based brand, holding tournament to crown UK Champion, Nigel McGuinness on announce team". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  5. ^ "NXT UK joins WWE Network's already packed Wednesday line-up". 11 October 2018. Retrieved 11 October 2018.
  6. ^ "Mark Andrews". WWE.com.
  7. ^ "Tyler Bate". WWE.com.
  8. ^ "Danny Burch". WWE.com.
  9. ^ "Joseph Conners". WWE.com.
  10. ^ "Jordan Devlin". WWE.com.
  11. ^ "James Drake". WWE.com.
  12. ^ "Pete Dunne". WWE.com.
  13. ^ "H.C. Dyer". WWE.com.
  14. ^ "Sam Gradwell". WWE.com.
  15. ^ "Saxon Huxley". WWE.com.
  16. ^ "Roy Johnson". WWE.com.
  17. ^ "Dan Moloney". WWE.com.
  18. ^ "Trent Seven". WWE.com.
  19. ^ "Tucker". WWE.com.
  20. ^ "Tyson T-Bone". WWE.com.
  21. ^ "Wolfgang". WWE.com.
  22. ^ "WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament - Tag 1". Cagematch. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  23. ^ "WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament - Tag 2". Cagematch. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
  24. ^ a b c d Soucek, Andrew. "SOUCEK'S WWE UK CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT REPORT 1/15: Ongoing coverage of night two of UK Championship tournament". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  25. ^ WWE.com Staff. "WWE United Kingdom Championship Tournament bracket and First Round matches revealed". WWE.com. WWE. Retrieved 9 January 2017.
  26. ^ Soucek, Andrew. "SOUCEK'S WWE UK CHAMPIONSHIP TOURNAMENT REPORT 1/14: Ongoing coverage of night one of UK Championship tournament". Pro Wrestling Torch. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  27. ^ Bobby Melok (10 January 2017). "Meet Andy Shepherd, ring announcer for WWE's United Kingdom Championship Tournament". WWE. Retrieved 10 January 2017.
  28. ^ "UPDATED: WWE UK Championship Special to air on WWE Network on Friday with legend Jim Ross on commentary". Daily Mirror. May 15, 2017. Retrieved May 20, 2016. The 90-minute show, starring the company's top UK and 205 Live cruiserweight talent, will feature action from tapings in Norwich on 6 and 7 May
  29. ^ "WWE United Kingdom Championship Special premiere today". WWE. May 19, 2017. Retrieved May 20, 2016.
  30. ^ WWE.com staff (April 13, 2018). "WWE U.K., NXT championship matches announced for Royal Albert Hall". Retrieved April 21, 2018.
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